Onboard stereo speaker question.

[Oscarpop]

I have a standard car stereo fitted on board with two sets of speakers.

The front set of speakers are wired to the saloon , and the rear are hidden speakers bonded inside the deck, so that there are no holes cut in the cockpit.

The problem is that the cockpit speakers distort like crazy at just about any volume.

At the moment, i simply change the fade to put more power to the saloon speakers.

However my question is: Would it be possible to wire a subwoofer into the rear speaker output, to take some of the bass frequencies?

All help appreciated.

ta

 

[Cardo]

Almost sounds like your cockpit speakers aren't up to the job if they're distorting at any volume. A subwoofer would help with the bass sounds, but won't stop the speakers from distorting.

Are the speakers big enough? Is the wiring ok? Have you checked the settings on the radio to make sure you don't have any equaliser settings turned up to the max?

 

[CreakyDecks]

Speakers are air pumps. If there is nowhere for the air to go it will be like putting your thumb on the end of a bike pump, the pump won't move freely. Try spacing them back from the wall. You'd probably be better with small domestic speakers with proper enclosures than car speakers.

 

[ytd]

the distortion is probably because the speakers have blown because they have been operated with no load. They need a car door inner or cockpit side to prevent the air in front of the speaker being pumped straight to the back of the speaker. You could go for small speakers in boxes but the sound will still be muffled, like listening to a car radio from the outside with the doors and windows closed. You could instal waterproof speakers in the cockpit sides or use battery powered wireless speakers.

 

[William_H]

I doubt the s[peakers are "blown " as such from no baffle. Speakers can be ruined by too much power but I doubt that with just a car radio to drive them. First check is to remove one and see if it sounds any better. Speakers do lose bass response from having no baffle. The air rushes from one side of the cone to the other so cancelling out the sound it makes them sound tinny. The answer is a baffle which is just a panel with the speaker maounted ina an airtight hole in the midedle so the air path from one side to the other is greater.
I wonder if this is what you call distorted. Distortion mostly occurs with greater volume and is caused by a mechanical constriction in the cone movement. With the speaker removed you can pump the cone in and out listening carefully for any scratching or restriction that can cause distortion. if so then a new speaker is indicated.
As said buy speakers ina box or cut a hole in the deck or cockpit side for the speaker and fit a grill.
A sub woofer usually these days has its own amplifier and single speaker. Again it will not work very well if just mounted under the deck but you could try it. good luck olewill

 

[robp]

All the things said so far are true in respect of how speakers work best. However, it may be me being thick, (quite likely), but you say that the rear speakers are "bonded inside the deck, so there are no holes cut in the cockpit". How exactly? Where does the sound come out? Are you having to turn up the volume to compensate for the fact that they are behind a panel with no direct sound pumping into the cockpit?

Others are right, fit a pair of 5" or 6" speakers into the cockpit sides or bulkhead so that they radiate directly into that area. Checkout CPC online, they usually have a selection of "marine" or water resistant speakers with their own grilles at very reasonable prices. Workout where there is least green water coming over the side but it's not a big issue in my experience.

If I were to fit a sub bass, it would be in the saloon were I could enjoy a nice full range whilst relaxing apre sail. Not to broadcast to others. Also, it would need a separate amp or be an active sub and that means more battery drain.